Filling in an aquarium can be an overwhelming task, especially when you have a substrate to take care of. New aquarists can find the task to be more daunting.
And since a substrate forms the foundation of an aquatic tank, any disturbance can cause stress to any aquatic life inside.
This article explores the best technique to fill an aquarium without disturbing the substrate.
Prepare the Aquarium for Filling
Before filling an aquarium with water, you have to perform a few important steps first.
First of all, you have to clean the aquarium and ensure that it doesn’t have any traces of dirt, dust, or residue left. You can do this by wiping the interior using a clean piece of cloth.
If you notice any presence of stains, you can use a nontoxic aquarium safe to scrub them away.
You will also need to rinse the gravel or the substrate. You can use a colander to remove any debris that has accumulated over time.
After ensuring that the tank and the substrate are clean, install the heater and filter correctly. These two items will be ideal for regulating water temperature and maintaining high levels of water quality.
The next step is to fill your aquarium with water to the desired level.
How to Fill Your Aquarium with Water
There are several methods that you can use to fill in your aquarium with water without disturbing the substrate. They’re as follows:
1. Use an Air Pump with an Air Stone
Using an air pump with an air stone will enable you to fill the aquarium with water gently without disturbing the substrate.
To do so, you need to first prepare the air pump and air stone. After that, plug in the air pump and place it in a stable position then attach the air stone to the air pump using a tube.
Next, place the air stone at the bottom of the tank and place a small rock to keep it in position. Turn on the air pump and observe if any bubbles are coming out of the air stone.
These bubbles are essential in displacing water that might disturb the substrate.
When the air stone is stable and working, you can now fill the tank with water. You can either use a bucket or a hose pipe to gently add water into the tank.
The bubbles coming out of the air stone will help displace water in areas that might have disturbed the substrate.
Continue filling the tank with water until it reaches the desired level. If you don’t observe any bubbles while adding water, stop first and adjust the air pump and the air stone to maintain a steady stream of bubbles.
Once you are through, you can now add your aquatic animals into the tank. But before you do so, check the quality of the water using a test kit to check for nitrite levels, ammonia, temperature, and PH.
2. Use a Plate or Bowl
Using a large plate or bowl is another method that you can use to fill up your aquarium with water without disturbing the substrate.
The bowl should be large enough to cover the substrate, but it should also be clean and free of any chemicals that might be toxic o your aquatic animals.
Next, position the bowl at the center of the tank or on top of the substrate. The bowl should not disrupt the substrate, so ensure that it is not heavy to cause any damage.
Make sure it sits well on the top of the substrate by using one of your hands to hold it.
After that, pour water into the bowl slowly and gently so that it disperses evenly across the surface of the substrate.
Avoid pouring the water quickly because too much force will shift the substrate. If the bowl moves, adjust it properly to ensure that water spreads evenly.
Once you have filled up the water to your desired level, you can now remove the bowl from the tank.
3. Use a Turkey Baster
The third method of filling in the water in your aquarium is using a turkey baster. You need to first get a clean turkey baster by rinsing it off with clean water.
Position the turkey baster in the aquarium and have its tip rest on the substrate to avoid sinking. If it is not positioned well, you can use one hand to support it while you pour water with the other one.
Pour water slowly into the turkey baster until it fills up. Don’t use y ouch force while pouring, rest you disrupt the substrate.
The next step is to release the water from the turkey baster to the aquarium. You can do this by slowly squeezing the baster and allowing water to trickle out of the tip.
Repeat this process until your aquarium is filled up to your desired position.
If you notice any inconsistencies, hold the baster well and position it in the right position to ensure that water comes out evenly.
Once you are done, remove the turkey baster by lifting it gently out of the water. Be careful to avoid disrupting the substrate.
4. Use Bubble Wraps
You can also use bubble wraps to fill in the water in an aquarium to avoid disrupting the substrate.
The first thing to do is to ensure that the bubble wrap is clean. Next, position it on top of the substrate. If it does not sit well, you will need to support it using your hand.
Fill the aquarium with water and be cautious not to topple the bubble wrap.
You will need to pour in water slowly and gently. The water should hit the bubble wrap as you pour it in.
Once you have filled your aquarium, remove the bubble warp by lifting it out gently. Be cautious to avoid disrupting the substrate.
Final Thoughts
The above methods are so simple to follow since you can get all the needed items without much struggle.
The goal of using these methods is to avoid disrupting the substrate so that aquatic life enjoys a comfortable environment.
Make sure to follow these guidelines to give you a smooth process without major hiccups.
